50 Years Later – Murder of Two Police Officers Still Hits Home….

On August 26, 1963 Sgt. Peter Voto and P.O. Gary Tedesco responded to the Angel Lounge on Route 46 in Lodi to a report of a disturbance. Upon their arrival to the location, Sgt Voto entered the establishment and PO Tedesco remained in the patrol car since he was a probationary officer and had not been carrying a gun at the time. Thomas Trantino and Frank Falco ambushed Sgt Voto upon entering the bar. When Sgt Voto did not return outside, PO Tedesco went inside to check on his partner and was also ambushed by the subjects. Both of these murderers were inside the tavern celebrating their recent heist throughout the area. They tortured and eventually shot both officers execution style inside the bar and left them for dead. Frank Falco was later shot and killed by New York Police Officers in Manhattan after resisting arrest. Thomas Trantino later turned himself in to authorities and was sentenced to the death penalty. New Jersey later repealed the death penalty and his sentence was commuted to life in prison. Numerous times this murderer made attempts to get parole, which were met by stiff opposition from law enforcement, family and politicians. Ultimately this heinous criminal was paroled and released in 1999 after serving 30+ years behind bars against stiff opposition of the law enforcement community to a half way house in Camden, NJ. On February 11th, 2002 Thomas Trantino walked free from a Camden, NJ half-way house only to be arrested a short time later for alleged spousal abuse.

50 Year Anniversary Memorial Service at Lodi Police Department – August 25th, 2013

Pictured above is the Peter Voto / Gary Tedesco Monument which is located in the center court of the municipal building visible from the main hallway of the police department which is all glass. Each Memorial Day members of the department have a annual ceremony placing a wreath at the memorial and reading the names of each officer who has passed away who was a member. There is also a Memorial Baseball Field located at the deadend of Chestnut Street named in both officers honor.